BIZARRE AUTUMN CONTINUES
Rockhampton recorded a hot 36.6C Thursday. Followed by a minimum of 13C Friday morning – a 23.6C fall. How Bizarre! The normal April Minimum to Maximum temperature differential is around 10C. Yeppoon and Gladstone recorded a maximum of 35C Thursday.
The very warm to hot north westerlies made for good boating weather for most of the week. Then to wake Thursday morning with a Rocky fog down to 900 metres at 6am blotting out the Berserkers with low pressures – amazing.
Then a cooler southerly hit the Keppels around 10pm Thursday. Gusts got to 21 knots (41kph) with the rapid change. Before the change the morning freshening north westerly tended north easterly during the afternoon gusting close to 20 knots (37kph). Rolling up the seas to 1.5 metres from a north easterly direction. Then at 10pm the southerly hit; turning the seas around to the south east. Rather complicated for anchoring at night off the islands. In fact I read a book on all the boat accidents for the Queensland coast prior to 2000. Nearly 80 per cent occured with the north west suddenly turning southerly mainly at night.
A large number of the accidents were very similar. Boats anchoring for a northwesterly at night were washed up on rocks in a sudden southerly. Even more Bizaar Cyclone “ILSA” a Cat 5 with reported gusts 289kph hit the Pilbara Coast off WA; close to Pardoo at 2am (WST) Friday. It’s April and a cyclone similar to Tropical Cyclone “YASI” (a summer phenomena) is impacting the Australian coast. The Monsoon this year has spawned some extreme events. Tropical Cyclone Ellie formed in Bonaparte Gulf off Darwin late December 2022 and dumped over 900mm in 24hrs at Fitzroy Crossing in the Kimberley early January 2023. Flooded the Kimberley for weeks. Then Super Cyclone “FREDDY” started off WA coast 6th February and after 36 days travelled the length of the the Indian Ocean crossing the African Coast twice and causing over 300 deaths. Called the longest lived cyclone in history. Then in mid March; close to 700-800mm was dumped from Century Mine to Burketown causing an inland sea which is still receding now. Enter Severe Tropical Cyclone “ILSA”!! Expecting some massive damage from winds and floods as the low travels eastwards via Telfer. The Sub- Tropical Jet Stream looks like grabbing it and steering it via Central Australia into eastern Australia. Arriving on the the east coast late Sunday into Monday. Interesting to see the different effects from Cairns to Sydney. Yes! Its moving that quick. While Melbourne had the coldest Easter Sunday in 80 years with 15.5C. Rockhampton had a hot 34.7C easter Saturday. Another Bizaar contrast.
INTERNATIONAL
USA – Fort Lauderdale recorded 25 inches (around 600mm) last Wednesday. A state of Emergency was called for Broward County. Heavy rain and intense lightning caused flash flooding that stopped cars ( remained on roads) and closed Lauderdale Airport. March and April are notorious for tornados. Records show many single occurrences in years gone bye of 30-40 deaths in 1977, 1998, 2008 and 2011’s Super Tornado. On the 28th April 2011 one EF5, 11 EF4 and 22 EF3 were confirmed. Reports of 252 people dying in Alabama alone and billions of dollars damage. Some people are still recovering from the trauma today.
CHINA – On Monday a Severe Sandstorm cloaked Beijing and north east China. An orange glow gave an eerie feeling as people with respiratory problems suffered. Particles exceeded 1.321 micrograms per cubic metre. This 45 times the WMO guidelines standard for poor air quality.
FORECAST
The low offshore associated with the cooler change Friday moves into the Tasman Sea and weakens. A Tropical Low develops north of New Caledonia. What are the remnants of “ILSA” going to deliver for CQ and the east coast? The cooler SE winds tend NE by Sunday. Cloud from ILSA reaches the Central Highlands late Sunday – yes it was that quick. Behind it a very strong high races into Central Australia. This combination of events may form a weak trough over Capricornia. A warm 31/32C sunny day Sunday for Rocky. Followed by the a cooler fresh SETW by Monday afternoon. Coastal light showers early Tuesday may reach the Bruce Highway. If the Tropical Low develops further in New Caledonia ( may cause some drama in Noumea) then the winds will increase late Tuesday into Wednesday for the Cap Coast. Maximums around 29/30C for the River City. Will this be the real autumn at last!?
